Egypt’s Aviation Industry All Set to Make a Comeback

After being suspended for more than three months now, Egypt’s aviation industry is all set to make a comeback. As per reports, the Ministry of Tourism of Egypt has announced plans to resume air travel to and from Egyptian airports from July 1. From July 4, Egypt’s Hurghada International Airport will be receiving Belavia Belarusian Airlines flights.

The national airline of Belarus — Belavia Belarusian Airlines has already started flight operations to and from several European countries on June 15. Recently, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism Khaled al-Anany discussed the resumption of tourism between the two countries with his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Kovalchuk. The discussions were focused at attracting travellers to tourist sites in the Red Sea and South Sinai governorates, as they are accounted as the first choice for 90 percent of Belarusian tourists. Also, the Ministry has scrapped tourist visa fees for the governorates of the Red Sea, South Sinai and Marsa Matrouh.

Earlier in June, the Red Sea Tourism Investors Association claimed that Belarus would be the first tourist market to enter the city of Hurghada. Further, the Association claimed that communication with foreign tourist markets had improved aiming to set dates for the return of international air travel and tourism. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Serbia are also planning to resume tourism to Egypt.

Analysts are expecting an early recovery for Egypt’s aviation industry as the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTCC) has approved the country’s regulation for the resumption of tourism to Egypt and given the country the “Safe Travel Stamp”.

Speaking to Khaled al-Anany via video conferencing, WTTC’s President and CEO — Gloria Guevara said that she is content to see major countries and destinations like Slovenia and Egypt join the growing list of global destinations adopting the council’s private sector protocols. She said, “This not only shows the success of the WTTC “Safe Travel stamp”, but also demonstrates its importance to travellers and those who work in the sector. We thank these destination countries and cities for working with WTTC and this time is the time for cooperation.”

The “Safe Travel Stamp” designed by WTTC has helped travellers to identify businesses and destinations which are adhering to the globally standardised protocols to travel safely.

In a move that can help boost Egypt’s aviation industry, EgyptAir has officially announced plans to return to public from July 1 by releasing its timetable for flights. The airline has assured all travellers will be delivered a safe travel experience.

Initially flights will begin for the following destinations in the first week: Addis Ababa, Athens, Berlin, Abu Dhabi, Brussels, Budapest, Copenhagen, Istanbul, London, Milan, Munich, Dubai, Erbil, Frankfurt, Sharjah, Toronto, Vienna, New York, Paris, Rome and Washington. Flights for Guangzhou, Baghdad, Geneva and Dar es Salaam will start from July 8 to July 18.